Shingle



D. FINLEY Dec. 11, 1.934.

SHINGLE Filed Aug. 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. BOZ/EE F//VLEY BMM f M H/S ATTORNEYS.

Da. 11, 1934e HNLEY 1,983,936

SHINGLE Filed Aug. 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig-5' H/s ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Pai-affine Companies, Inc.,

San Franciscol Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 25,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a shingle, and particularly to an interlocking shingle.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a shingle which may be laid in a variety oi di'erent ways; each presenting a roof of entirely dierent appearance. f

Another object of my invention is to provide an interlocking shingle which may be secured in its interlocked position with the use of a single nail.

Further objects of my invention include the provision of a substantially square-shaped. inter.-

locking shingle which may be cut from a parent sheet without waste of material; and which may be laid in an ordinary thatch. aninterlocking staggered thatch, an interlocking diamond thatch,

embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roof portion showing the shingle embodying my invention laid 'in an interlocking staggered thatch.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing a portion of a roof covered with the shingle of my invention laid in an ordinary thatch.

Figure 3 is a perspectiveview of a roof portion showing the shingle laid in an interlocking square thatch.

Figure 4 is a plan View of a parent strip of material showing how the shingles are cut.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a roof portion showing the shingle in interlocked position to simulate a tile.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View of the shingle tiles illustrated in Figure 5; the plane of section being indicated by the line 6--6 o! Figure 5.

Figure 'i is a perspective view of a ro'of portion showing the shingle of my invention laid in an interlocking diamond thatch. v

Figure 8 is a plan view of the interlocking shingle embodying my invention.

In terms of broad inclusion, the shingle embodying my invention comprises a substantially square-shaped sheet, preferably of flexible composition roong material. The shingle is provided with a locking means at one corner and complementary locking means at an adjacent corner 1930, Serial No. 477,826

adapted to engage with the locking means of an adjacently laid shingle; thus providing an interlockingl feature.

` The shingles are shaped in such a manner that a plurality of them may be cut from a parent strip of material, so -that the sides of each shingle form Athe sides of adjacently cut shingles. As a result, the shingles may be cut without waste of material, because the sum of the areas of the intertting cut shingles is substantially equal to the area. of the parent strip.

The shingle of my invention may be laid in a variety of different ways, including an ordinary thatch, an' interlocking staggered thatch, an interlocking diamond thatch, an interlocking. square thatch, or an interlocking thatch to simulate a tile roof; each presenting an entirely different appearance. When the shingle is placed in its interlocked position, it may be secured with the use of a single nail; and furthermore, the procedure, in each of the methods of laying, involves only simple operations which may be accomplished by the ordinary layman.

In greater detail, the shingle embodying my invention comprises a substantially squareshaped sheet 2 having straight sides. A locking means or tab 3 is provided at one corner, and a complementary locking means or receiving slit 4 is provided at an adjacent corner. eral outline of the shingle is shown in Figure 8.

The shingles are preferably cut from a parent strip 6 of iiexible composition roofing material. Such materials fall in the class generally known as prepared roofing materials, and comprise a suitable felt base satruated and/or coated with a bituminous compound, which may or may not be covered with crushed mineral matter.

The particular shape of the shingles permits them to be cut from the parent strip 6 without waste of material; and Figure 4 illustrates a convenient way in which the cutting may be done. It will be noted that the sides of each shingle form the sides vof adjacently cut shingles; and the locking tab 3 is provided by a recess 7 cut in the corner near the receiving slit 4 of an adjacent shingle. Attention is directed to the fact that the shingles are out in longitudinal rows from the parent sheet, so that the interlocking means of each shingle are formed contiguous to the central cut. By this method of cutting, the exposed edges of all the shingles are cut edges thereby presenting a more pleasing appearance when the shingles are laid.

As a result, a plurality of the shingles may be 'I'his gencut from a parent strip of material so that they interiit to form an outline having dimensions substantially equal to the parent strip; the sum of the areas of the resulting shingles being substantially equal to the total area of the strip from which they are cut. The cutting may be effected by any suitable means, such as stamping dies, or dies mounted on rollers between which the parent strip passes.

The shingle may be laid in a variety of dii'- ferent ways; and Figure 1 shows an interlocking staggered thatch. In this method of laying, beginning at the left end of the roof eaves as shown in Figure 1, a shingle with its tab removed is nailed down by a nail passing through the slitted corner, as shown by the nail 8 of a later applied shingle. The locking tab 3 of another shingle is now engaged with the receiving slit 4 of the iixed shingle, so that the lower edge of the shingle is in line with the lower edge of the one ilrst laid; and the second shingle is nailed down in the same way that the rst shingle was nailed. Other shingles are now laid in a similar manner until a course has been completed along the eaves oi' the roof. I

A second course is now provided overlying the ilrst course, so that the shingles of the second course are staggered, or offset to break joints, with those of the irst course. This is accomplished by beginning the course with a shingle portion, as shown at the left of the roof in Figure 1. The method of laying the shingles in the second course, however, is the same as that described for the tlrst course.

Other courses are now provided, continuing upwardly towards the ridge, until the roof is completely covered. The degree oi.' overlay for the courses may be varied as economy or conditions may dictate, depending upon the amount of the shingle to be exposed to the weather. It is to be noted that, throughout the body oi' the root, but a single nail is required to secure each shingle. It is better, however. to additionally secure the shingles along the sides of the roof by a second nail 9, `preferably a copper nail, placed as shown in Figure l.

The shingles may also be laid in an ordinary thatch, as illustrated in Figure 2, This method simply comprises inverting the shingles, and laying them in spaced and overlapping relationship; the tab 3 of each shingle providing a spacing means as shown. This method is made possible by the particular rectangular shape of the shingle. with its tab 3 positioned at a corner adjacent to the corner having the receiving vslit 4 and tab recess 7, so that these interlocking means may be covered by an overlapping shingle.

Another method of laying the shingles provides an interlocking square thatch. as shown in Figure 3. This method comprises laying a first course of shingles along the eaves of the roof in a manner similar to that described for the interlocking staggered thatch, illustrated in Figure 1. In laying the second course, however, a whole shingle, with its locking tab removed, is used at the start. The shingles of the second course overlie the rst course, and are laid in the same manner as those in the rst course, except that the slitted corner underlaps the corner of a shingle in the lower adjacent course.

Each shingle in the body of the roof is nailed down with a shingle nail 1l passing through the overlapping corners of adjacent shingles, as shown in Figure 3. It is to be noted that the overlapping corner abuts the side of the receiving slit 4, thus providing means for aligning the shingies in position. An inspection of the Figure 3 shows that the sides of each shingle are aligned with the sides of the other shingles to give the appearance oi a uniform square thatch.

Another method of laying the shingles is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this method, the shingles are laid in overlying courses similar to the interlocking square thatch, except that portions of the shingles are elevated to simulate the appearance Of tile. 'Ihe portions of the shingles are preferably elevated by suitable spacers, such as the semi-circular bars 12, running transversely of the rooi' from eaves to ridge. Since the shingles are flexible, they may be readily formed to conform with irregular contour provided by the roof and spacers.

'Ille spacing bars 12 are preferably arranged so that a shingle will extend over a bar, across the intervening space, and up the side of an adjacent bar, as shown in Figure 6. The nailing is the same as that for the interlocking square thatch, except that in this case the nails will be driven into the spacing bars 12.

Still another method oi laying the shingles provides an interlocking diamond thatch, as shown in Figure '7. This method comprises laying a strip 13 of suitable material along the eaves of the roof; the strip 13 being preferably oi the same material as that used to make the shingles. After the strip is laid, a shingle is cut along its diagonal, and the portion having the slitted corner is placed so that the diagonally cut edge lies along the side of the roof adjacent the lett eaves,

as shown in Figure The shingle is secured by a nail 14, preferably a copper nail, passing through the lower corner.

Another shingle, with its tab removed, is now laid adjacent the fixed shingle, so that its tabless corner is adjacent the roof eaves, and the corner diagonally opposite the slitted corner overlaps the slitted corner of the fixed shingle. The second shingle is nailed by a nail passing through the overlapping corners, as shown by the nail 15 of a later laid shingle. This arrangement causes a diagonal of the shingle to be substantially at right angles with the rooi' eaves. Other shingles are laid in a similar manner, until a complete course is provided .along the eaves of the roof.

In laying the second course a whole shingle is used at the start, and is positioned to overlay the first two shingles of the lower adjacent course with its tab 3 engaging the receiving slit 4 of the iirst shingle in the lower course. Another shingle is now interlocked with the second shingle of the first course, and positioned so that a corner overlaps the slitted corner of the first shingle of the second course.

The overlapping rcorner abuts against the side of the receiving slot and serves to align the shingle in position relative to the others. A single nail 16 is nailed through the overlapping corners, and serves to secure the shingle in its interlocked position. Other shingles are now laid in a similar manner, until the second course is completed.

'Ihe third course is laid in a manner similar to thatfot the second course, except that a. diagonally cut shingle, similar to that used to start the irst course, is used at the beginning. This alternation of whole and diagonally cut shingles at the beginning of the courses is followed out, until the complete roof is covered. Each squareshaped shingle bears the same relationship relative the roof eaves, viz., each has a diagonal at substantially right angles to the eaves; as a result, a diamond thatch is provided. Although extra nails are used along the sides and eaves o! the roof to hold down the shingle corners, it is to be noted that only one nailv is used for each `shingle throughout the body of the roof.

The shingle embodying my invention is particularly useful, because of these variant ways in which it may be laid; and this usefulness is further enhanced by an accompanying high degree of adaptability, since each method of laying presents a roof of different appearance.` In the present advanced state oi building construction, including its many types of architectural design, a shingle of this sort is especially advantageous and highly desirable.

Good design is largely a matter oi cultivated taste; and it is a matter of common knowledge that the appearance of a particular type oi dwelling is enhanced by a harmonizing style of roofing. The adaptability of the shingle embodying my invention permits a selection, to accord with a particular type of building; and since a wide range of application is secured by shingles all made in the same way, the cost of manufacture and distribution is materially reduced. I

I claim:

1. In a roof comprising a plurality of sub' stantially rectangularly-shaped shingles having locking means at one corner and a receiving slit at an adjacent corner, a course o1 saidshingles laid with one corner of each shingle overlapping the slitted corner of an adjacent shingle so that the overlapping corner abuts the slit, and a similarly laid course oi said shingles overlying the first mentioned course s0 that the locking means of each shingle in the overlying course engages with the slit oi a shingle in the underlying course.

2. In a roof comprising a plurality of substantially rectangularly-shaped shingles having a tab at one corner and a receiving slit at an adjacent corner, a course of said shingles laid with one corner oi each shingle overlapping the slitted corner of an adjacent shingle so that theoverlapping shingle abuts the edge of the slit. and a similarlylaid course of said shingles overlying the first mentioned course so that the tab oi.' each shingle in the overlying course engages with the slit of a shingle inthe underlying course and underlies the abuttingl edge of the slit.

3. In a roof comprising a plurality of substantially rectangularly-shaped shingles having a tab at one corner and a receiving slit at an adjacent corner, a course of said shingles laid with a non-locking corner of each shingle over lapping the slitted corner of an adjacent shingle, and a similarly laid course of said shingles overlying the iirst mentionedA course so that the tab of each shingle in the overlying course overlies the lapped corners and engages with the slit of a shingle in the underlying course.

4. A roof comprising a plurality of substantially rectangularly-shaped shingles having locking means at one corner and complementary locking means at an adjacent corner, a course of said shingles laid with a non-locking corner of each shingle overlapping a corner having the complementary locking means of an adjacent shingle, and a similarly laid course of said shingles overlying the first mentioned course with the locking means of each shingle engaged with the complementary locking means o! a shingle in the underlying course.

5. A roof comprising a plurality of rectangularly-shaped shingles having a locking tab at one corner and a receiving slit at an adjacent corner, a course of said shingles laid with a nonlocking corner of each shingle overlapping the slitted corner of an adjacently laid shingle, and a similarly laid course oi said shingles overlying the iirst mentioned course with the tab of each shingle engaged with the slit of a shingle in the underlying course.

6. A roof comprising a plurality of rectangularly-shaped shingles having a locking tab at one corner and a receiving slit at an adjacent corner, a course of said shingles laid with a nonlocklng corner of each shingle overlapping the slitted corner oi an adiacently laid shingle, said shingles being secured by a nail passing thru overlapping corners, and a similarly laid course of said shingles overlying the rst mentioned corner of each shingle overlapping a locking cor-. A f ner of an adjacent shingle, and a similarly laid course of said shingles overlying the first men-` tioned course so that the locking means of each shingle in the 'overlying course overlies the lapped corners and engages with the complementary locking means of a shingle in the underlying Course.

Dozma FINLEY. 

